Method and mobile communication terminal for changing a configuration of a screen displaying function items

ABSTRACT

A function for configuring a screen reflecting user preference is implemented when formlets are displayed to indicate function items of a mobile communication terminal. The size, position and shape of a formlet on which an indicator is positioned are changed by user settings in a state in which multiple formlets are displayed, thereby increasing accessibility to a formlet of high preference to a user and also increasing display visibility.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to a KoreanPatent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onAug. 8, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-74757, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a mobile communicationterminal, and more particularly to a method and mobile communicationterminal for changing the configuration of a screen displaying functionitems.

2. Description of the Related Art

In conventional mobile communication terminals, screens for functionitems are constructed in the same size and form, as shown in FIG. 1, andhave a structure for displaying icons and titles of the function items.On a screen displaying the function items divided in a uniform size, asshown in FIG. 1, an associated function icon is shaded when an indicatoris used for a user's selection. The user can select a current desiredfunction item by moving the associated indicator.

There is a problem in that display visibility is low since movementbetween items and a current position is indicated only by shading of ascreen displaying function items of a conventional mobile communicationterminal.

As user demands have become more diverse, mobile communication terminalsnow support a variety of functions, such as a menu edit function and thelike, so additional functions can be efficiently utilized in variousmethods while considering various desires of the users. These methodsshould be able to satisfy desires of users and preferentially considerconvenience for users.

However, since specific function items may be conventionally displayedonly in a similar size and shape, it is difficult for users todifferentially display high-preference items. For example, icons or listitems indicating a buddy group and a family group in a phonebook arevery similar to each other in size and shape, and differentiationbetween them, other than changing only a sequence of the icons or lists,is not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, users may simply change only a sequence of functionitems even when they desire to differentiate specific function itemsfrom others. For this reason, there is a problem in that displayvisibility of the function items is low.

The present invention addresses at least the above problems and/ordisadvantages and provides at least the advantages described below.Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a methodand mobile communication terminal for changing a configuration of ascreen displaying function items that can increase display visibility ofthe function items of the mobile communication terminal and can easilyand quickly access the function items.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for changing a configuration of a screen displaying functionitems of a mobile communication terminal, including activating a blockonto which an indicator is moved in a screen displaying at least oneblock in which detailed items are provided for functions of the mobilecommunication terminal; determining whether an edit request is inputfrom a user in a state in which the block is activated; andreconfiguring the screen by changing at least one of size and positionof the activated block in response to a user setting when the editrequest is input.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a mobile communication terminal for changing a configuration ofa screen displaying function items, the terminal including a userinterface provided with a zoom-in key and a zoom-out key for outputtinga key input signal mapped to a key input from a user; a controller forcontrolling a screen to display at least one block in which detaileditems are provided for functions of the mobile communication terminalwhen the user selects a specific function, and for reconfiguring thescreen by changing at least one of size and position of a block of theat least one block on which an indicator is positioned in response to akey input signal mapped to an edit request from the user when theindicator is positioned on the block; and a display for displaying thescreen of the at least one block and the reconfigured screen undercontrol of the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be more apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a screen for function items of aconventional mobile communication terminal;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart illustrating a method for changing theconfiguration of work blocks in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a screen displaying a reduced size workblock in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a screen displaying an enlarged sizework block in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the sameor similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals eventhough they are depicted in different drawings. Descriptions ofwell-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity andconciseness.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention can implement a functionfor configuring a screen reflecting user preference when formlets aredisplayed to indicate function items of a mobile communication terminal.In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the size, positionand shape of a formlet on which an indicator is positioned are changedby user settings in a state in which multiple formlets are displayed,thereby increasing accessibility to a formlet of high preference of auser, and also increasing display visibility.

Formlets used in the present invention will now be briefly described.

A formlet is a work block for enabling interaction with a storageobject. For example, a phonebook function, a camera function, or thelike, can be implemented with one formlet. This formlet is one componentof a zooming User Interface (UI) and is a function unit provided to theuser for a specific purpose (for example, a call log formlet or aphonebook formlet). These formlets can be displayed on one screen. Whena user zooms in on a desired formlet, the user can view detailed itemsof a function mapped to the formlet. That is, the work block is a blockof detailed items for a function of the mobile communication terminal.In a screen displaying work blocks, a function for quickly accessing awork block of high interest to the user is desired. Therefore, a needexists for a method which can differentially display a work block ofhigh interest to the user.

FIG. 2 shows a mobile communication terminal according to the presentinvention for providing a personalized formlet according to need. Theformlet is referred to herein as the work block.

Referring to FIG. 2, a controller 200 controls the overall operation ofthe mobile communication terminal. In particular, the controller 200changes the size and position of a specific work block in response touser settings in a screen displaying at least one work block, andcontrols a display 210 to output a change result. Also, the color andshape of the specific work block can be changed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Specifically, the controller 200 controls the display 210 to display afunction for editing a work block selected by the user from a screendisplaying multiple work blocks in accordance with the presentinvention. That is, the controller 200 allows the user to easily changethe size, position, color and shape of a work block by providing theedit function for the selected work block. In the present invention, akey for editing a work block can be assigned with a function key forperforming other existing functions. Alternatively, the edit functionfor a work block can be provided by displaying an edit option menu onthe screen. As described above, the edit function can be provided invarious methods using a specific key or a menu on the screen.

Using this edit function, the user can set the selected work block to adesired size and can move the work block to a desired position. Whencolor and shape change option menus are selected and various color andshape lists are displayed, the user can change the color and shape ofthe work block by selecting a desired color and shape. Since ahigh-interest work block can be arranged in a desired size and position,the user can easily access and move a desired work block. In the presentinvention, a work block of high interest to the user can bedifferentially displayed, without modification of the work block,according to size change since work blocks are created in a vector form.

On the other hand, in the present invention, a Graphic Input Device(GID) cursor is provided to select an associated work block from ascreen displaying work blocks. The GID cursor can be an indicator forselecting a work block displayed on the display 210 and can have a crossshape like a mouse cursor. The GID cursor operates based on a rolloverfunction. In the present invention, the rollover function can change thecolor of the edge of an associated part or can indicate the associatedpart by shade, when the GID cursor is placed on or passes through aspecific area displayed on the display 210, such as a work block, anscreen, a button, or the like. When the user moves the GID cursor on thescreen, the controller 200 can change and display the color of a workblock in a moved position.

On the other hand, various work blocks displayed on one screen areexecuted in the following method. The user selects a desired work blockusing a zoom-in function. When a zoom-in request is input, thecontroller 200 controls an operation for enlarging the work block todisplay the enlarged work block. On the displayed enlarged work block,detailed items of a selected function are displayed. Various types ofinformation regarding the detailed items can be provided. For example,when a user zooms in on a “phonebook” work block, information regardingfunctions of a phonebook list and the like can be displayed, orsub-menus of a phone number search menu, a recent call list menu, andthe like, can be displayed.

When the edit function is not selected although a specific work block isactivated as described above, the work block itself is enlarged anddisplayed in response to the zoom-in input, so detailed items of thework block can be displayed to the user. In another example of thepresent invention, the zoom-in or zoom-out input is used to adjust thesize of a specific work block after the edit function is selected in astate in which the specific work block is activated. After the editfunction is selected, a direction key input can be used to move the workblock and determine a position of the work block. When the user selectscolor and shape change option menus, a palette and shape tool aredisplayed on the screen, so the work block can be changed to the colorand shape desired by the user.

Under control of the controller 200, the display 210 can receive andoutput display data mapped to key input data from a UI 220 or candisplay an operating state of the terminal and a plurality of pieces ofinformation in the form of icons and characters. Under the control ofthe controller 200, the display 210 allows the user to visually detectan operating state in which a function is set or started.

In addition, in response to the zoom-in or zoom-out input by the user,the display 210 can enlarge or reduce a work block so other functionscan be immediately executed without a hierarchical movement betweenmenus on a screen displaying specific work blocks. In particular, thedisplay 210 to which the present invention is applied displays an editmenu mapped to selection when the user selects the edit function. Whenthe display 210 is constructed with a touch screen, the display 210 canprovide the controller 200 with a control signal related to a work blockmovement and selection by the user like the UI 220.

The UI 220 can be provided with number keys and function keys and canprovide the controller 200 with input data mapped to a key selected bythe user. In accordance with the present invention, the UI 220 caninclude a zoom-in or zoom-out key for enlarging or reducing work blocksin which detailed items for various functions are provided. This zoom-inor zoom-out key can be additionally provided on the UI 220 or can beimplemented with a function key for performing other existing functions.Alternatively, the zoom-in or zoom-out key can be implemented with acombination of keys mapped in advance.

The memory 230 can be constructed with a Random Access Memory (RAM) anda Read-Only Memory (ROM) for storing a plurality of programs, data, andthe like. Other configurations of memory 230 may alternatively be usedaccording to the desires of the user. In accordance with the presentinvention, the memory 230 can store various work blocks to be displayedon a screen and their information. Moreover, the memory 230 can storeinformation generated and updated by the user for high-interest workblocks.

Certain examples to which the present invention is applied will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 shows an operation forchanging a configuration of a screen displaying work blocks in a mobilecommunication terminal with the above-described structure in accordancewith the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of screensaccording to operations shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 relates to an example ofdisplaying work blocks mapped to a main menu when the main menu isselected.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 200 determines whether the userselects the main menu in step 300. If the main menu is selected, thecontroller 200 proceeds to step 310 to display a plurality of workblocks mapped to the selected main menu. For example, when the main menuis selected, various work blocks such as a “phonebook” work block, a“message” work block, a “camera” work block, and the like can bedisplayed on one screen, as shown in diagram (a) of FIG. 4. Anindicator, such as a GID cursor for selecting a work block, overlapswith the work blocks on one screen.

Then, the controller 200 determines whether the indicator is positionedon one work block according to user input in step 320. If the indicatoris positioned on one work block, the controller 200 activates theassociated work block in step 330. When a movement between work blocksis made according to user input, the controller 200 allows the user toview the activated work block by changing the color of the edge of thework block on which the indicator is currently being positioned orindicating the work block by shade along with the moved indicator.

To select a desired work block from the screen, as shown in diagram (a)of FIG. 4, the user moves the indicator onto the desired work block.When the indicator is positioned on the desired work block in a state inwhich the work blocks are displayed, as shown in diagram (a) of FIG. 4,the color of the whole function block on which the indicator ispositioned is varied, as shown in diagram (b) of FIG. 4. In a state inwhich the associated work block is activated, the controller 200proceeds to step 340 to determine whether the edit function is selectedfor the work block on which the indicator is positioned.

If the edit function is selected, the controller 200 proceeds to step350 to change the size and position of the activated work blockaccording to the edit function selected by the user, and to display thework block in the changed size and position. The user can also changethe color and shape of the activated work block using the edit function.Then, the controller 200 determines whether the editing is completed instep 360. Until the editing is completed, the work block is editedaccording to user input. Through the above-described edit function, awork block of high interest to the user can be differentially displayedwhich is distinguished from other work blocks. As visibility of a workblock is improved, the user can quickly access the work block.

On the other hand, the user can edit the associated work block in manymethods in a state in which the associated work block is activated withreference to FIG. 3. The edit method will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5. Diagram (b) of FIG. 4 and diagram (a) of FIG. 5 showexamples of indicating an activation state by varying the color of aspecific work block on which the indicator is positioned, diagram (c) ofFIG. 4 shows an example of reducing the size of the activated workblock, and diagram (b) of FIG. 5 shows an example of enlarging the sizeof the activated work block.

Diagram (c) of FIG. 4 shows an example in which the specific work blockof diagram (b) of FIG. 4 is reduced to a smaller size than the originalsize and is displayed in a smaller size than other work blocks asindicated by reference numeral 400 when a zoom-out request is inputafter the user presses an edit key or selects an edit menu in a state inwhich the specific work block is activated. Similarly, diagram (b) ofFIG. 5 shows an example in which the activated work block is displayedin a larger size as indicated by reference numeral 500 when the userinputs a zoom-in request in a state in which the activated work block ofdiagram (a) of FIG. 5 is displayed.

Using the zoom-out function, the user can reduce low-interest workblocks to a size smaller than the original size. Using the zoom-infunction, the user can enlarge a high-interest work block to a largersize. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example of displaying workblocks mapped to a main menu has been described. For example, when aphonebook function is selected, work blocks for buddy and family groupsand the like can be displayed. As described above, frequently usedsub-functions mapped to specific functions can be displayed with workblocks.

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention canreconfigure a screen displaying a plurality of work blocks using zoom-inand zoom-out functions while considering interest of a user. Moreover,the present invention can differentially display a work block of highinterest to the user without modification of the work block according tosize change since work blocks are created in a vector form.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments of the present invention thereof, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a memory storinginstructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to:control to provide blocks associated with applications on a screen ofthe electronic device, a size or a shape of each of the blocks beingchangeable based on a corresponding input, and one of the blocks andanother of the blocks being provided in a first shape; based on an inputon the one of the blocks, control to enter an edit mode by providing anedit menu object for providing a first option for changing a shape ofthe one of the blocks and a second option for changing a size of the oneof the blocks; during the edit mode: based on an input on the firstoption, control to provide a list of shapes; in response to a selectionof a shape among the list of shapes: control to change the first shapeof the one of the blocks to a second shape different from the firstshape; and control to provide the edit menu object with the one of theblocks, of which the first shape is changed to the second shape; and inresponse to an input on the second option: control to change a firstsize of the one of the blocks, of which the first shape is changed tothe second shape, to a second size larger than the first size; andcontrol to provide the edit menu object with the one of the blocks, ofwhich the first shape is changed to the second shape and the first sizeis changed to the second size; and control to store informationregarding the second shape and the second size of the one of the blocks,of which the first shape is changed to the second shape and the firstsize is changed to the second size, in the memory.
 2. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the one of the blocks corresponds to a phonebook application of the electronic device.
 3. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein, when the one of the blocks is enlarged, informationregarding a phone book list that is stored in the memory is displayedwithin the enlarged one of the blocks.
 4. The electronic device of claim1, wherein, when the one of the blocks is enlarged, items are displayedwithin the enlarged one of the blocks, the items corresponding tocontacts on a phone book list that is stored in the memory.
 5. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructionsexecutable by a processor of an electronic device to cause the processorto: control to provide blocks associated with applications on a screenof the electronic device, a size or a shape of each of the blocks beingchangeable based on a corresponding input, and one of the blocks andanother of the blocks being provided in a first shape; based on an inputon the one of the blocks, control to enter an edit mode by providing anedit menu object for providing a first option for changing a shape ofthe one of the blocks and a second option for changing a size of the oneof the blocks; during the edit mode: based on an input on the firstoption, control to provide a list of shapes; in response to a selectionof a shape among the list of shapes: control to change the first shapeof the one of the blocks to a second shape different from the firstshape; and control to provide the edit menu object with the one of theblocks, of which the first shape is changed to the second shape; and inresponse to an input on the second option: control to change a firstsize of the one of the blocks, of which the first shape is changed tothe second shape, to a second size larger than the first size; andcontrol to provide the edit menu object with the one of the blocks, ofwhich the first shape is changed to the second shape and the first sizeis changed to the second size; and based on exiting the edit mode,control to store information regarding the second shape and the secondsize of the one of the blocks, of which the first shape is changed tothe second shape and the first size is changed to the second size, in amemory.
 6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim5, wherein the one of the blocks corresponds to a phone book applicationof the electronic device.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 5, wherein, when the one of the blocks isenlarged, information regarding a phone book list that is stored in thememory is displayed within the enlarged one of the blocks.
 8. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein,when the one of the blocks is enlarged, items are displayed within theenlarged one of the blocks, the items corresponding to contacts on aphone book list that is stored in the memory.
 9. A method of providing auser interface in an electronic device, the method comprising:controlling to provide blocks associated with applications on a screenof the electronic device, a size or a shape of each of the blocks beingchangeable based on a corresponding input, and one of the blocks andanother of the blocks being provided in a first shape; based on an inputon the one of the blocks, controlling to enter an edit mode by providingan edit menu object for providing a first option for changing a shape ofthe one of the blocks and a second option for changing a size of the oneof the blocks; during the edit mode; based on an input on the firstoption, control to provide a list of shapes; in response to a selectionof a shape among the list of shapes: controlling to change the firstshape of the one of the blocks to a second shape different from thefirst shape; and controlling to provide the edit menu object with theone of the blocks, of which the first shape is changed to the secondshape; and in response to an input on the second option: controlling tochange a first size of the one of the blocks, of which the first shapeis changed to the second shape, to a second size larger than the firstsize; and controlling to provide the edit menu object with the one ofthe blocks, of which the first shape is changed to the second shape andthe first size is changed to the second size; and based on exiting theedit mode, controlling to store information regarding the second shapeand the second size of the one of the blocks, of which the first shapeis changed to the second shape and the first size is changed to thesecond size, in a memory.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one ofthe blocks corresponds to a phone book application of the electronicdevice.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein, when the one of the blocksis enlarged, information regarding a phone book list that is stored inthe memory is displayed within the enlarged one of the blocks.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein, when the one of the blocks is enlarged,items are displayed within the enlarged one of the blocks, the itemscorresponding to contacts on a phone book list that is stored in thememory.